Milton Keynes

Milton Keynes' population expanded in the 10 years leading up to 2011. Data from the census also show there were changes in ethnicity, housing tenure and religion.

The population reached nearly quarter of a million

In the decade leading up to the most recent census, the population of Milton Keynes increased by 20%, from about 207,000 to 249,000.

The addition of just under 42,000 people means this area's population was the fastest-growing in the South East and increased faster than the rate of growth across England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Milton Keynes was home to, on average, 5.8 people per football pitch-sized piece of land.

Population density was higher than the average across the South East

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across the South East, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older Milton Keynes

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Milton Keynes increased by one year, from 34 to 35 years.

This suburban area had a lower average age than the South East and remained somewhat younger than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The fall in age was because of an increase of about 8,400 people between the ages of 60 and 69 years.

About 9.0% of people in Milton Keynes are aged between 60 and 69 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Milton Keynes by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Disability in Milton Keynes

The percentage of Milton Keynes residents whose day-to-day activities are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability increased from 2.6% to 3.1% between the last two censuses.

The percentage who reported being limited a little in their day-to-day activities remained close to 5.8%, while the percentage of Milton Keynes residents whose day-to-day activities are not limited by a long-term health problem or disability decreased from 92% to 91%.

The proportion of people who are considerably limited by a long-term health problem or disability increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 2.5% in 2001 to 3.2% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 3.1% to 3.8%.

The proportion of people who are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability was lower than across the South East

Percentage of usual residents that reported being considerably limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Ethnicity in Milton Keynes

The number of people in Milton Keynes from the White ethnic groups increased from about 190,000 in 2001 to just under 200,000 in 2011. However, as a percentage of the local population, this represented a decrease from 91% to 80%.

The percentage decreased by more than the average across the South East (from 95% to 91%) and the average across England (from 91% to 85%).

The number of people in Milton Keynes from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups increased from about 9,400 in 2001 to about 23,000 in 2011 (from 4.5% to 9.2%). The number of residents from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups increased from about 5,000 to just over 17,000 (from 2.4% to 6.9%).

About 8,200 people (1.8%) said they were from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed), up from about 3,700 in 2001 (3.3%).

The population from the White ethnic groups in Milton Keynes decreased by 11 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Milton Keynes by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of privately rented homes increased in Milton Keynes at a faster rate than in Central Bedfordshire (the local authority area that shares the largest boundary with Milton Keynes).

In Milton Keynes, the proportion of private renting increased from 7.5% in 2001 to 17% in 2011. During the same period, the proportion in nearby Central Bedfordshire increased from 6.9% to 12%.

Across the South East, the share of privately rented homes increased from 10% to 16%.

The rate of social housing in Milton Keynes fell from 19% to 18%, while the rate of home ownership decreased from 67% to 58%.

Private renting in Milton Keynes increased by 9.8 percentage points

Percentage of households in Milton Keynes, the South East and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Religion in Milton Keynes

The number of people in Milton Keynes that described themselves as having no religion increased from just under 45,000 in 2001 to just under 78,000 in 2011. This represents a change from 22% to 31% of those who chose to disclose information about their religious beliefs.

The percentage increased by less than the average across the South East (from 17% to 28%), but at a similar rate to the average across England (from 15% to 25%).

The number of people in Milton Keynes that described themselves as Christian decreased from just under 140,000 in 2001 to just over 130,000 in 2011 (from 66% to 53%). The number of people who did not disclose their religious affiliation remained close to 16,000 (6.6%)

About 12,000 people (2.3%) said they were Muslim, up from just over 4,800 in 2001 (4.8%).

The population without a religion in Milton Keynes increased by 9.8 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Milton Keynes by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Fewer people worked long hours

The percentage of employed people in Milton Keynes working more than 49 hours in the week before the census decreased from 13% to 9.9% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

In 2011, just over 1 in 40 (2.6%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) said they had worked less than 16 hours the previous week, compared with 1.7% in 2001.

The proportion of people working long hours fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 14% in 2001 to 11% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 13% to 10%.

Long hour working in Milton Keynes decreased by 3.5 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Milton Keynes, the South East and England that said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of Milton Keynes residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 7.1% to 4.1% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just under 9 in 10 (85%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 72% in 2001. The percentage of Milton Keynes residents that described their health as fair decreased from 20% to 11%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 7.2% in 2001 to 4.4% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Milton Keynes decreased by 3 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Milton Keynes, the South East and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in rate of unemployment

The percentage of Milton Keynes residents that were unemployed increased from 3.0% to 4.8% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

In 2011, just under 6 in 10 (59%) people aged 16 to 74 said they were employed, compared with 63% in 2001. The percentage of Milton Keynes residents that were self-employed increased from 7.3% to 8.7%.

The proportion of unemployed people increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 2.3% in 2001 to 3.5% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 3.4% to 4.4%.

The rate of unemployment in Milton Keynes increased by 1.8 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 in Milton Keynes, the South East and England that said they were unemployed, March 2001 and March 2011

Changing household dynamics

The percentage of one-person households fell in Milton Keynes, while rising in Swindon (one of the most statistically similar areas to Milton Keynes based on ONS area classifications).

In Milton Keynes, the proportion came down from 27% in 2001 to 26% in 2011, while across England it went up from 28% to 30%. During the same period, the regional proportion remained close to 29%.

The percentage of households with a cohabiting couple in Milton Keynes increased from 11% to 12%, while the percentage of households with a married couple decreased from 40% to 37%.

The percentage of households with only one person was lower than across the South East

Percentage of households that comprised only one person across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Changing relationships in Milton Keynes

The percentage of adults in Milton Keynes that had divorced or separated from a married or civil partner increased from 12% to 13% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

In 2011, just under one in two (48%) people aged 16 and over said they were married, compared with 52% in 2001. The percentage of single people in Milton Keynes increased from 30% to 33%.

The proportion of people who had divorced or separated from a married or civil partner increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 11% in 2001 to 12% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 11% to 12%.

The proportion of people who had divorced or separated from a marriage or civil partner was higher than across the South East

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that said they had divorced or broken up with a married or civil partner across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Changes in family structure

The percentage of households in Milton Keynes with only adult children living with their parents increased from 8.7% to 9.2% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

The percentage that had at least one dependent child remained close to 35%, while the percentage of households in Milton Keynes without children decreased from 57% to 56%.

The proportion of households with adult children living with their parents increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 8.8% in 2001 to 9.1% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 9.4% to 9.6%.

The proportion of households with only adult children living with their parents was higher than across the South East

Percentage of households where a parent lived with their adult children across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Change in unpaid care provision

The percentage of Milton Keynes residents that provided at least 50 hours of weekly unpaid care increased from 1.7% to 1.9% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

The percentage who reported providing between 20 and 49 hours of unpaid care each week remained close to 0.9%.

The proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 1.7% in 2001 to 2.0% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 2.1% to 2.4%.

The proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care in Milton Keynes remained close to 1.9%

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Milton Keynes by care, March 2001 and March 2011

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